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Most children who get measles, mumps or rubella (German measles) make a full recovery. But mumps and measles can cause serious complications, which may lead to long-term problems and even, in rare cases, death. And if you are pregnant and get rubella, it can damage your unborn child.

Most children who have measles recover completely in a week to 10 days. But in the past, before children were vaccinated against measles, almost 7 out of 100 people got complications from the illness.¹

Complications from measles can be temporary problems, such as having seizures or diarrhea, or very serious problems, such as brain damage.

To learn more, see Complications of measles.

Most people who have mumps recover completely after a week to 10 days. But some people get serious complications that can lead to long-term health problems. The most important problems affect the nervous system, pancreas, ears and testicles.

To learn more, see Complications of mumps.

It's rare for children with rubella to have complications from the disease. Most people recover completely within eight to 12 days. But if you are pregnant and catch rubella in the first few months of pregnancy, the virus is likely to harm your unborn baby.² This is known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS).

To learn more, see Complications of rubella.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.